Ascendant Saga Collection: Sci-Fi Fantasy Techno Thriller by Brandon Ellis (best novels to read in english .txt) 📗

She knew what he meant. She had seen things in her old life that few people had seen. They probably needed her to lead a squadron to take out whatever stood in SSP’s way. “How can you fix my body?”

“We have made more advances in medicine than we let on in the media, than we let on in the military in all ranks and services, Earth-bound or otherwise. In the news, stem cells are in their infancy, but the truth is we perfected them twenty years ago. We have stem cell sprays and lotions that can reshape your skin. You can look twenty-five again. It’s all about the electrical property of cells. There is more to it at the molecular level, and I know the science may not interest you, but if you come with me, you can see and experience the healing science for yourself.”

“Place the manila envelope on the ground and leave.”

The man nodded, placing it on her welcome mat. “We can change your life in a moment, if you choose. Make that moment today, Captain. We need you.” He doffed his hat in an old-fashioned gesture of respect.

She heard him get in his SUV and drive off down her long gravel driveway. She watched until she couldn’t see his car anymore. Only then did she open the door and pick up the envelope, taking a deep whiff of the fresh, hillside air that smelled of lavender and lake. The outside wasn’t bad.

Back on her couch she tore at the envelope. Photographs spilled out, twelve in all, 8.5 x 11 glossies. A sticky note with a phone number attached to one of the pictures, along with a letter.

She read the letter, then dropped it on her lap and scoured the pictures. Her stomach did flips. It was as if she’d just won the lottery. There were pictures of Jupiter and its moons, including Callisto, the moon outside of Jupiter’s radiation belt. The data was technical, but not gobbledygook. The writer was clear, there was a black ops secret space program in another sector of the government and they wanted her to be part of the team.

The last picture gave her a hearty laugh. It was a close-up of a pyramid. In space. She grinned. “There are Egyptian pyramids on a Jupiter moon. How did we miss that?”

She lifted her phone and dialed the number on the sticky note.

It rang only once before a man picked it up, the same man who had been at her front door.

“Yes, Ma’am?”

“What is the next step?”

“I’ll head back and get you today. We’ll start your regeneration tomorrow.”

“Who are you?”

“Slade.”

Rivkah huffed. “I should have known.”

19

June 1stCharlotte, North Carolina

Drew sat on a white bench, his mother next to him. He eyed his mother’s pink sweatshirt with blue letters that read Tanner Springs Assisted Living Center. It was gaudy, but she didn’t seem to notice or care.

“How are you liking it here, Mom?”

His mom’s curly, gray hair bobbed up and down and her chin shook but her eyes devoid of expression. “I like it a lot.” She extended her hand, shaking Drew’s. “I’m Laura.” Her eyes went vacant again and she asked tentatively, “Who are you?”

“I’m your son, Mom. Drew Avera.” He’d already told her half a dozen times today.

“How old are you?”

“I’m twenty-two.”

“How old am I?”

Drew hated this question, and even though she asked it every time he visited, he told her the truth. “You’re forty-eight.”

Her eyes widened. “I’m what?”

“You’re still young, Mom. Don’t worry.”

She squeezed his hand tightly, then patted his hand with her other. “Oh, wouldn’t that be quite the news story.” Her curious eyes gazed into Drew’s. “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a news reporter of sorts, or a journalist. I’m kinda both. In my position, they can be the same thing.”

Drew’s phone rang; the Caller ID read Hobbs Howell. He answered. “You didn’t air it. It’s been almost a week.”

“We’re not going to air it.”

“Hobbs, you know I’m going to send this to every major and minor news outlet. Why aren’t you airing it?”

“To keep peace and order.”

“I’m disappointed.”

“You did an excellent job with your source and getting him to send you those satellite images. We’re cutting you a big check as I speak.”

Drew closed his eyes. “That’s not why I’m a journalist. In fact, I’m already a pretty damn respected one, so I’d appreciate it if you’d treat me that way. If I cared about money, I’d have worked for a tech company that would give me twice the pay. I’m a bona fide genius and you know it, which is one of the reasons why you hired me. Companies are banging down my door just about every day trying to get me to work for them and for a lot more dough.” They weren’t, but it sounded impactful. “I’m not doing this for the money, Hobbs.”

“Drew, we respect you, but you can’t get your way on this one. Plus, I’d get blasted by the GSA, the NSA, and the god damn President, pardon my French, if I were to let this story out into the open.”

“Why would GSA have any leverage?”

“Don’t send the pictures out to anyone. This story is done.”

“The hell I won’t!”

“I can’t defend you, your credentials, or this station if you talk about ridiculous structures on another object in our Solar System. I will discredit you in every way possible. You know we can do it. And you know Joe Public will believe us and not you. We’ve got the clout, you’re a brainy, weed-smoking flake, with a couple of DUI’s and an underage pornography habit.”

Drew stood. “I do not. I’ve not even had a parking ticket and I’m no pedophile. You’re an asshole, Hobbs.”

Hobbs went silent.

“You wouldn’t really do that to me, would you?”

Hobbs sighed. “It’s out of my hands, my friend. This is a matter of national security. We do not dick